Photonics West 2021: Lumentum launches five and six junction VCSEL array products

09 Mar 2021

For consumer, automotive, and 3D sensing; multi-junction VCSEL arrays “raise the bar for performance,” says developer.

Lumentum, a developer of VCSEL arrays for 3D sensing and LiDAR applications, this week at SPIE Photonics West Laser Marketplace announced new high-power and high-efficiency five and six junction vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays for advanced consumer, automotive LiDAR, and other 3D sensing applications.

The use of LiDAR and 3D sensing is expanding into new applications in the consumer electronics, automotive, and industrial markets. New applications and new functionality are driving the need for higher power and higher efficiency from smaller form factor devices.

‘Record-breaking optical peak powers’

Lumentum says its five and six junction VCSEL arrays enable much lower power dissipation, very high slope efficiencies, and record-breaking optical peak powers compared with existing devices.

Optical powers exceeding 2 W per individual VCSEL emitter have resulted in over 800 W of peak power from a compact one square millimeter sized VCSEL array. The peak optical power, low thermal dissipation, and small die size of these new multi-junction VCSELs arrays are important to extending their use to high performance all-solid-state medium and long-range LiDAR.

“Automotive, consumer, and industrial customers increasingly need higher performance VCSEL arrays to drive increased functionality and adoption of LiDAR and 3D sensing enabled products,” said Dr. André Wong, Vice President of 3D Sensing Product Line Management.

“Our latest multi-junction VCSEL arrays continue our long history of pioneering innovative optical solutions in close collaboration with customers. These new products leverage the well proven high-volume, 6-inch wafer supply that we established more than four years ago.”